Dress Blues, Jason Isbell Potent in its simplicity, Isbell reflects on the loss of a high school friend in the Iraqi War. Even after hundreds of listens, I still get a chill in my spine when Isbell sings “You never planned on the bombs in the sand, or sleeping in your dress blues.” If I […]
Mayer’s Picks from 2007: Honorable Mentions
A few more for your consideration… Free Life by Dan Wilson Intelligent lyrics and extraordinary pop sensibilities make Wilson an in-demand songwriter and collaborator. Left to his own devices he delivers an impeccably produced pop gem. Cigarettes and Gasoline by Emerson Hart The former Tonic front-man serves up some of the most mesmerizing melodies this […]
Mayer’s Picks from 2007: The Albums
With the passing of one year and the start of another, we at Twangville relish the opportunity to reflect on our favorite music of the past year. Over the next week I’ll be highlighting my favorite albums and songs from 2007, culminating with a preview of some highly anticipated 2008 releases. We start with the […]
Todd’s Tops of 2007
Favorite Albums:  Neil Young/Live at Massey Hall – So, some folks call it a reissue, but it’s the first time I’ve heard it and I believe, the first time its been released. Yeah, it was a concert that took place over 30 years ago but still new to my ears and it was one […]
Klausner Music Newsletter 2007, Year-End Musings by Bobby K
Hey Everybody, As always, the following is a link to ITunes to download a playlist of some of my favorite songs of the year: BOBBY K’S 2007 PICKS. This playlist contains a song from most of the records I reviewed below, as well as some other great songs from 2007. I took great care in […]
Win Over the Rhine’s “Snow Angels”, CD Giveaway
**NOTE: Contest is now closed. You can still participate but will no longer be eligible for the giveaway.** Tis the season for holiday music and its time to giveaway another great recent release. This time around it comes to us via Cincinnati based Over the Rhine with their new Christmas album Snow Angels. To be […]
Win Mindy Smith’s “My Holiday”, CD Giveaway
**NOTE: Contest is now closed. You can still participate but will no longer be eligible for the giveaway.** You could say that Mindy Smith was born to sing Christmas songs. The adopted daughter of a pastor and his wife who raised her in Long Island, NY. No doubt her Christian upbringing played into her interest […]
Bill Williams, Artist Discovery (and Giveaway!)
**NOTE: Contest is now closed. You can still participate but will no longer be eligible for the giveaway.** DC area artist Bill Williams, whom you may have previously seen in the capitol area with such bands as Last Train Home, Kevin Johnson and the Linemen and The Grandsons, recently released his first solo effort. The […]
And the REM Contest Winner Is…
The new REM live cd/dvd, aptly titled REM Live hit the streets this past Tuesday but one person doesn’t need to buy it. The winner of the Twangville REM contest is Chris McDonald of St. Catharines, ON, Canada. The word on Main Street in Twangville is that the band is planning to release a new […]
Mark Knopfler: A Twangville Contest!
The legendary Mark Knopfler, one of rock and roll’s most distinctive guitarists, is releasing a new album on September 18th. Titled Kill to Get Crimson, it hearkens back to classic songwriting of the early Dire Straits releases. I’ve been particularly taken with “Punish the Monkey,” and its catchy chorus “punish the monkey, let the organ […]